Labudovo okno

Names in the national language

Labudovo okno (Serbia)

Location and short description

Labudovo okno is located in the southeastern region of Banat, near the village Dubovac and Banatska Palanka, while the lower part occupies the right bank of the Danube, near the village of Ram in central Serbia. In the east, the Nera River is located and it is adjacent to the border with Romania. In Serbia, the Special Nature Reserve Deliblatska Pescara (Deliblato Sands) is bordering Labudovo okno.

Special features

Labudovo okno, as we know today, originated when the hydroelectrical plant Đerdap began to fill its reservoir in the late 1960s. Due to the backwater of the Danube, the water flooded the surrounding plains creating this special area. Labudovo okno contains three major isles: (1) Čibuklija,which is the biggest one with 4 km extension and a max. 1.2 km width; (2) Ada Žilava, the most upstream with 2 km extensions and max. 670 m width; (3) Avojska Ada, which is located on the right bank of the Danube, having 1.5 km extension and max. 510 m width. The shallow waters of the Danube are an ideal spawning place for many fish species. Labudovo okno is a significant gathering place for nesting waterfowl species, some of which endangered. It is also a feeding place for many rare and endangered species and the most important wintering place of water birds in Serbia and one of the most important in the Balkans.

Main biotop types

Alternate aquatic and wetland plant communities, wet meadows and steppe pasture

Species

• Mammals: Southern birch mouse (Sicista subtilis), European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus)
• Birds: White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca), Common pochard (Aythya ferina), European roller (Coracias garrulus), European bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
• Reptiles: Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius), Balkan wall lizard (Podarcis tauricus)
• Plants: White water lilies (Nymphaea alba), Yellow water lilies (Nuphar lutea), Sweet flag (Acorus calamus), Autumn Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes spiralis)

Status of protection

Special Nature Reserve, Ramsar site, Important Bird Area, Important Plant Area, Prime Butterfly Area (Serbia)